Boutilier Named IWLCA Player of the Year

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June 7, 1998

BALTIMORE, MD — Peggy Boutilier (Baltimore, Md/Roland Park Country) was named the National Player of the Year (Defense) for the second year in a row at the Intercollegiate Womens Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American banquet in Baltimore, Md. earlier today. The announcement was made by Chris Sailer, the head coach at Princeton and the president of the IWLCA.

Boutilier, a senior from Baltimore, Maryland, led the Cavaliers in goals scored (37) and ground ball pickups (79) in helping the Cavaliers reach the title game in the NCAA Womens Lacrosse Championship for the second time in Boutiliers career. Although she is primarily a defensive player, having also been named the National Defensive Player of the Year in 1997, Boutilier exploded offensively this year, scoring a career-high 37 goals. Boutilier has also recorded two games in which she has scored a career-high five goals, including against then-#2 and undefeated Princeton and then-#6 James Madison. Her 42 points on the season is a career high. Boutilier did not lose any of her defensive prowess as she still anchored a Cavalier defense that ranked first in the county in scoring defense, allowing only 6.00 goals per game. Boutilier also ranked third at Virginia in caused turnovers and draw controls. Boutilier was also named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference tournament team in 1998 as the Cavaliers captured the ACC title for the first time in school history. Her selection to the All-Conference team was her second such selection in the two years the conference has sponsored a team. She set a school record with her 71st consecutive start, which she reached in the national championship game. The 71 games also stands as the record for most games played in a career. She already holds the record for consecutive starts and games played in field hockey with 88. She was also a first-team All-American in 1997. Boutilier was named to the United States national lacrosse team last week.

With the selection, a Cavalier has been named a National Player of the Year for five consecutive years and seven times in the last eight years.